Verses on Tongues

• Isaiah 28:9-12 - Isaiah prophesies about tongues
• Joel 2:28-32 - Joel prophesied the pouring out of God's spirit (Pentecost)
• Mark 16:15-18 - Jesus says all those who believe will speak in other tongues
• Acts 1:4-8 - The Risen Jesus tells the disciples to wait for the promise of the father
• Acts 2:1-18 - Pentecost when the spirit is poured out
• Acts 2:38-39 - When the Jews heard the others speaking in their languages, Peter instructed them what to do
• Acts 10:43-48 - Peter sent to speak at the house of a non-Jew
• Acts 19:1-6 - Paul found disciples in Ephesus only baptized with the baptism of repentance (John's baptism)
• Romans 8:26-28 - the spirit intercedes for us when we don't know what to pray
• 1 Corinthians 1:5
• 1 Corinthians 12 - Paul's instructions on diversity of Spiritual Gifts
• 1 Corinthians 13 - Love is the Greater Way
• 1 Corinthians 14 - Prophesy is the greater gift, do not forbid tongues
• 2 Timothy 1:6
• Jude 17-21

Isaiah

God Prophesied tongues through Isaiah.  He called it a Rest, a Refreshing.

Isaiah 28:9-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁹ Who is he trying to teach?
   Who is he trying to instruct?
   Infants just weaned from milk?
   Babies removed from the breast?
¹⁰ For he says: “Law after law, law after law,
   line after line, line after line,
   a little here, a little there.”
¹¹ So He will speak to this people
   with stammering speech
   and in a foreign language.
¹² He had said to them:
   “This is the place of rest,
   let the weary rest;
   this is the place of repose.”
   But they would not listen.

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Joel

God Prophesied pouring out his spirit through Joel.  Peter equated this with what they heard when the 120 disciples were speaking in other tongues at the Pentecost

Joel 2:28-32 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

God’s Promise of His Spirit

²⁸ After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your old men will have dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
²⁹ I will even pour out My Spirit
on the male and female slaves in those days.
³⁰ I will display wonders
in the heavens and on the earth:
blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the great and awe-inspiring Day of the Lord comes.
³² Then everyone who calls
on the name of Yahweh will be saved,
for there will be an escape
for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
as the Lord promised,
among the survivors the Lord calls.

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Matthew

Mark

Jesus said His disciples would speak in tongues.  He said it is a sign.  It required faith (vs 17)

Mark 16:15-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹⁵ Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”

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Luke

John

Acts

Jesus Commanded His Disciples to wait until they received the promise of the father, which would bring with it tongues

Acts 1:4-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Holy Spirit Promised


⁴ While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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When the promise of the father came, they ALL spoke with other tongues.  In this specific event they were speaking in human tongues, the tongues of the nations around them.  It was a sign to the unbeliever.  Notice, this is associated to Joel's prophesy of "they will all prophesy".. so this tongues is seen as part of prophesying... speaking the magnificent acts of God.

Acts 2:1-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Pentecost

¹ When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. ³ And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. ⁵ There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ And they were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.” ¹² They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?” ¹³ But some sneered and said, “They’re full of new wine!”

Peter’s Sermon

¹⁴ But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. ¹⁶ On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

 ¹⁷ And it will be in the last days, says God,
   that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;
   then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
   your young men will see visions,
   and your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ I will even pour out My Spirit
   on My male and female slaves in those days,
   and they will prophesy.

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The promise is to you and as many as God Shall Call

Acts 2:38-39 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

³⁸ “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

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Here the gentiles received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues and in this case it was a sign to believers.  Perhaps since it is to believers, then maybe these tongues are tongues of Angels but it is not clear here in this passage.  But it does say that they are declaring the greatness of God just like it did in Acts 2 when they were clearly talking in tongues of men.

Acts 10:43-48 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁴³ All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”

Gentile Conversion and Baptism

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God.

Then Peter responded, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

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These disciples only heard about repentance, but when Paul baptized them in the name of Jesus, they spoke in tongues and prophesied as Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came on them.

Acts 19:1-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Twelve Disciples of John the Baptist

¹ While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ “Then what baptism were you baptized with?” he asked them. “With John’s baptism,” they replied. ⁴ Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy.

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Romans

Romans 8:26-28 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

²⁶ In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. ²⁷ And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸ We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

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1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge

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1 Corinthians 12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

¹ Now concerning what comes from the Spirit: brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols that could not speak. ³ Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. ⁷ A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:

There are different kinds of tongues.   

⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,
to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
¹⁰ to another miraculous powers,
to another prophecy,
to another distinguishing between spirits,
to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

¹² For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. ¹⁴ So the body is not one part but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. ¹⁹ And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? ²⁰ Now there are many parts, yet one body.

²¹ So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. ²⁴ But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, ²⁵ so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. ²⁶So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

God set these things in the church - they should be present

²⁸ And God has placed these in the church:

first apostles,
second prophets,
third teachers,
next miracles, then gifts of healing,
helping, managing,
various kinds of languages.

²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret?

³¹But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

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One distinction in the different kinds of tongues is Tongues of Men verses Tongues of Angels.  The main thing is love, do all things out of Love.   All of these gifts will pass away, they have not yet, but they will as there will be no need for them.

1 Corinthians 13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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Paul said his writings were the commandments of God and he also said NOT to forbid speaking with tongues (v 37-39).  He said it is a direct communication between you and God (verse 2).  It confounds the wise.(v 23) Remember, in the versus above, it equates tongues with prophesy. Curry Blake believe that is when tongues is followed by interpretation, or it is tongues of men, then it is prophesy.


1 Corinthians 14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Prophesy: A Superior Gift

¹ Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. ² For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? ⁷ Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? ⁹ So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. ¹² So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” ²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. ³⁴ Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. ³⁶ Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. ³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

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2 Corinthians

Galations

Ephesians

Phillipians

Colossians


1 Thess

2 Thess

1 Tim

2 Timothy

stirring up THE gift (keep ablaze the gift of God).. the gift of the Holy Spirit.  One way we do that is by speaking in other tongues

2 Timothy 1:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.

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Titus
Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John
2 John
3 John

Jude

Paul said to build yourselves up and pray in the holy spirit
Jude 17-21 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹⁷ But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸ they told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These people create divisions and are unbelievers, not having the Spirit.

Exhortation and Benediction

²⁰ But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.

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Revelation